A mid-century modern prosthetic leg
This submit ran on 22 September 2008 at first.
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I came across this on Apartment Therapy this week and I couldn't pass it up.
I love the work of Charles and Ray Eames as I've said before on many occasions. In 1956, the Eames' released their Eames Lounge and Ottoman through Herman Miller . Herman Miller still produces them now, but in 1956, the Eames/ Herman Miller combination hit pay dirt and released an instant classic. This chair is a design icon for obvious reasons. Designers go ape over it still and it remains as popular now as it was at the time of its unveiling.
An industrial designer named Joanna Hawley took her inspiration from the Eames Lounge and Ottoman and used that inspiration to design a prosthetic leg while she was a design student at Carnegie Mellon University . Hawley partnered up with Kayhan Haj-Ali-Ahmadi, a pre-med student. Kayhan's knowledge of anatomy and Joanna's design skills combined to terrific effect and the fruit of their partnership speaks for itself.
When I think of prosthetic limbs, If I think of prosthetic limbs, the idea that they should be beautiful never occurs to me. When it comes to medical devices, I always assume that function trumps form every time. Who says they can't work together? Clearly, not Joanna Hawley.
In her own words and from her website:
Prosthetics generally lack humanity, style and grace. Often, they look just like landing tools and make the wearer uncomfortable, self conscious, and every so often depressed. By channeling the Eames' use substances and iconic style, we designed a leg with Steve McQueen in thoughts. We sought to convey a innovative use of effective and terrible space, a stability of materials and a reflection of the wearer.
I corresponded with Joanna Hawley a bit the opposite day and I requested her why a prosthesis? Here's what she had to mention:
Today's technology is faced with the Iraqi struggle, mainly the fact of squaddies coming lower back without limbs. Diabetes is also the leading cause of amputees in America, that is a little recognised fact. Finally, as an Industrial Designer, its my job (and ardour!) to think about methods to enhance human beings's lives. All these motives clearly rolled into one very severe and exciting undertaking. I've continually been a massive fan of Ray and Charles Eames (as you can probable tell through the rest of my work) and I wanted to offer this prosthetic a completely alluring aesthetic. I know veneering may be polarizing, but so far humans appear without a doubt excited through the opportunities. And certainly, that's what the point of the mission become, to perceive the opportunities inside the future of prosthetics.
Get this girl an award.